The survey of 3,355 people aged 16 and over living in Northern Ireland gives an overview of lifestyle behaviours such as smoking, alcohol consumption and general health.

Some of the key findings include:

General health

70% described their health as being good or very good, and the majority (86%) feel they lead a fairly or very healthy life.

Smoking

Around one-fifth of respondents (18%) were current cigarette smokers. This is not a statistically significant change from the 20% reported in 2016/17 though smoking prevalence has fallen from 24% in 2010/11.

Smoking prevalence in the most deprived areas (30%) continues to be around three times that in the least deprived areas (11%).

A small proportion of respondents (8%) reported that they currently use electronic cigarettes, an increase from 6% in 2016/17. Around two-fifths of these respondents (40%) are current cigarette smokers while (56%) used to smoke on a regular basis.

Obesity

Over a quarter of adults (27%) were classed as obese with a further 37% classed as overweight.

Obesity levels have shown an upward trend from the 23% recorded in 2010/11.

Whilst obesity levels were similar, males were more likely than females to be overweight.

Around three-quarters of children aged 2-15 were classed as either normal weight or underweight, while 18% were classed as overweight and 9% were classed as obese. Since 2010/11, the proportion of children classed as overweight or obese has remained at similar levels.

Alcohol

Around three-quarters of respondents aged 18 and over drink alcohol, 81% of males and 75% of females.

A fifth (18%) drink above recommended weekly limits, with males (31%) around three times more likely to do so than females (9%).

The proportion of respondents drinking above recommended weekly limits has fallen from 24% in 2010/11.

Loneliness

Females (21%) showed more signs of loneliness than males (18%).

Respondents living in urban areas and those in the most deprived areas were more likely to report signs of loneliness than those in rural areas and the least deprived areas respectively.

Younger people (aged 16-34) showed more signs of loneliness (21%) than people aged 65 and over (14%).